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Syllabus
Intro To Astronomy
AY 101 Section 002
Fall 2014, Lecture
Dr. Raymond White
Lectures:
T Th 3:30-4:45
159 Russell Hall
Office Hours and Contact Information
T Th 10:30-11:45
e-mail: rwhite@ua.edu
phone: 348-3040
office: 206 Gallalee
Prerequisites
Course Description
| Lectures: T Th 3:30-4:45 159 Russell Hall |
In this course we will survey the nature and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies and the Universe (see objectives below). Throughout this course, students will analyze, synthesize, and evaluate astronomical data and concepts.
Note: AY 102 (Astronomy Lab) must also be taken (in this or some later semester) for AY 101 to count towards the Natural Science portion of the Core Curriculum.
Links: astronomy.ua.edu/white/xtra
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to identify key concepts in the sciences, contributing to the develoment of a broad perspective on the human condition.
Students will be able to recognize and explain the scientific method, and evaluate scientific information.
Students will be able to characterize the appearance and motion of celestial objects.
Students will be able to identify the key conceptual advances (and associated figures) in the history of astronomy.
Students will understand the relationship between light, matter, and energy in an astronomical context.
Students will understand the content, formation and evolution of planetary systems.
Students will understand the nature and evolution of stars.
Students will understand the nature and evolution of galaxies.
Students will understand the nature and evolution of the Universe.
Required Texts
Other Course Materials
(required) Turning Technologies response pad (clicker) - at SupeStore
clicker: $?? (one time charge) ... then register online though the Bb Learn site for this course
Outline of Topics
| T | Th | Material Covered | T | Th | Material Covered | ||
| Aug | 21 | Intro - Chs. 1, 3 | Oct | 16 | Solar System Debris - Ch. 9 | ||
| 26 | Sky, Calendar - Chs. 1-2 | 21 | EXAM | ||||
| 28 | Sky, Calendar - Chs. 1-2 | 23 | The Sun - Ch. 11 | ||||
| Sep | 2 | Early Astronomy - Ch. 3 | 28 | Measuring Stars - Chs. 12 | |||
| 4 | Gravity, History - Ch. 4 | 30 | FALL BREAK | ||||
| 9 | Gravity, Light - Chs. 4-5 | Nov | 4 | Star Formation & Evolution - Ch. 13 | |||
| 11 | CLASS CANCELLED | 6 | Stellar Evolution - Ch. 13 | ||||
| 16 | Light & Matter - Ch. 5 | 11 | Stellar Death - Ch. 14 | ||||
| 18 | Light & Matter - Ch. 5 | 13 | EXAM | ||||
| 23 | EXAM | 18 | Milky Way Galaxy - Ch. 15 | ||||
| 25 | Solar System - Ch. 6 | 20 | Galaxies - Ch. 16 | ||||
| 30 | Earth - Ch. 7 | 25 | Big Bang - Ch. 17 | ||||
| Oct | 2 | Earth, Moon - Ch. 7 | 27 | THANKSGIVING BREAK | |||
| 7 | Terrestrial Planets - Ch. 7 | Dec | 2 | Dark Matter, Dark Energy - Ch. 18 | |||
| 9 | Giant Gas Planets - Ch. 8 | 4 | Life in the Universe - Chs. 10,19 | ||||
| 14 | Giant Gas Planets - Ch. 8 | Dec | 11 | FINAL EXAM (7:00-9:30 pm) |
Attendance Policy
Class participation (using clickers) contributes up to 7% extra credit (see below).
You must have a functioning clicker with you for daily participation credit.
Advice for doing well in this class:
Bring the study guide to class and work through it during class.
The course notes are designed to be talked over during class, so they do not comprise a grammatical narrative. They are NOT meant to be used as a standalone study guide - they support the live lectures. For a grammatical narrative, please read the textbook.
Many of the daily clicker questions are similar to the questions you will find on exams; it would be wise to write them down!
When reading each chapter, start by 1) reading the learning goals on the first page; then 2) skip to the end of the chapter and read "the big picture" and "summary of key concepts" sections.
Extra Credit Opportunities
In-class clicker quizzes provide up to 7% extra credit; extra credit = 7% x min(clicker%, exam%)
example: if exams = 85% & clicker quizzes = 60% => final % = 85 + 0.07 x 60 = 89%
example: if exams = 70% & clicker quizzes = 80% => final % = 70 + 0.07 x 70 = 75%
Emergency Contact Information
UA's primary communication tool for sending out information is through its web site at www.ua.edu. In the event of an emergency, students should consult this site for further directions. Additional course information will be posted using Blackboard Learn.
Severe Weather Guidelines
The guiding principle at The University of Alabama is to promote the personal safety of our students, faculty and staff during severe weather events. It is impossible to develop policies which anticipate every weather-related emergency. These guidelines are intended to provide additional assistance for responding to severe weather on campus.
UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.
When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take.
The Office of University Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:
- Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
- Weather advisory sent out through UA Alerts to faculty, staff and students
- Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
- Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
- Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA-TV/WUOA-TV, and on the website at http://wvuatv.com/content/weather. WVUA-TV Home Team Weather provides a free service you can subscribe to which allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa via e-mail or cell phone. Check http://wvuatv.com/content/free-email-weather-alerts for more details and to sign up for weather alerts.
In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.
Disability Statement
If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary.
If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call (205) 348-4285 (Voice) or (205) 348-3081 (TTY) or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.
Policy on Academic Misconduct
All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of each semester and on examinations and projects, the professor, department, or division may require that each student sign the following Academic Honor Pledge: “I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedure resulting from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University.”
See the Code of Student Conduct for more information.
UAct: Ethical Community Statement
The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility. The UAct website (http://www.ua.edu/uact) provides extensive information on how to report or obtain assistance with a variety of issues, including issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sexual violence or other Title IX violations, illegal discrimination, harassment, child abuse or neglect, hazing, threat assessment, retaliation, and ethical violations or fraud.